A deep dive into Prime Minister Modi’s recent claim of unprecedented growth in India’s healthcare education infrastructure over the last nine years.
India is witnessing a transformation in healthcare facilities, as claimed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to the Shantivan complex of Brahma Kumaris in Abu Road, Rajasthan. According to PM Modi, this transformation is evidenced by an average of “one medical college being inaugurated every month in the last nine years.”
The Expansion of Medical Education in India
During his address, PM Modi asserted that less than 150 medical colleges had been inaugurated in the decade preceding 2014. However, in the subsequent nine years under his government, more than 350 medical colleges have been inaugurated. This roughly equates to one medical college inaugurated every month, a significant increase in the pace of expanding medical education infrastructure.
PM Modi’s claims can be substantiated by comparing the number of MBBS and postgraduate seats available now to those before 2014. The number of MBBS seats has surged from approximately 50,000 per year to over 1 lakh today. Similarly, the number of postgraduate seats has more than doubled from around 30,000 to over 65,000 in the same period.
The Impact of Increased Medical Education Infrastructure
The implications of this rapid expansion are profound. It addresses the long-standing issue of the lack of sufficient doctors, nurses, and medical staff in the country. Furthermore, PM Modi remarked that the number of doctors produced in India over the next decade would equal the total number of medical practitioners in the seven decades following independence. This surge in medical professionals will undoubtedly aid in improving the healthcare scenario in India.
Nursing Education: An Area of Focus
PM Modi also highlighted the growth in the field of nursing. He informed that more than 150 nursing colleges have received approval nationwide, with over 20 coming up in Rajasthan alone. This development will benefit not just the state but also the upcoming Super Speciality Charitable Global Hospital.
Healthcare Schemes: Ayushman Bharat and Jan Aushadhi
The expansion of healthcare education infrastructure is just one aspect of the broader transformation that PM Modi spoke about. He emphasized the role of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in ensuring that medical treatment is accessible to poorer sections of society. The scheme, he said, has already benefited more than 4 crore patients, saving them a total of Rs 80,000 crore. Similarly, the Jan Aushadhi Scheme has reportedly saved poor and middle-class patients about Rs 20,000 crores.
Vision for the Future: Amrit Kaal
PM Modi referred to the current era as ‘Amrit Kaal’, implying a period of rejuvenation and progress. He urged every citizen to fulfil their responsibilities completely during this time. He also acknowledged the critical role that social and religious institutions play in this transformative phase.
Moreover, PM Modi also highlighted India’s push to promote millets on a global scale, the campaigns for natural farming, river cleaning, and groundwater conservation. These initiatives, he stressed, are as crucial to the nation’s well-being as the transformation of the healthcare sector.
In conclusion, PM Modi’s claims about the rapid expansion of medical education infrastructure provide a hopeful glimpse into the future of healthcare in India. If these trends continue, India could significantly improve its healthcare services, bridging the gap between the demand and supply of healthcare professionals and ensuring better health outcomes for its vast population. However, the effective implementation of these expansions and initiatives will be critical to realising these optimistic projections.